Announcing the PacBio ANZ HiFi SMRT Grant Winner!
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We are delighted to announce that Professor Glenn King has been named the recipient of the 2020 PacBio ANZ HiFi SMRT Grant! Prof. King received the grant for his project ‘Deadly Genes: Exploring the Genome of the lethal Australian Box Jellyfish,’ and he plans to use HiFi sequencing in an integrated multi-omics investigation into venom of the Australian box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri.
We are thrilled with the outcome and very excited to work with Prof. King on this project. The calibre of entries was very high and we congratulate everyone on their efforts in putting together such outstanding proposals.
Prof. King explains, “this jellyfish is arguably the most lethal venomous animal in the world. Its venom is both cardiotoxic and neurotoxic, causing serious pathophysiological effects: onset of symptoms is so rapid that human victims have been known to die of heart failure within minutes, and survivors can experience intense pain for weeks. However, the molecular mechanisms that underpin the biosynthesis and function of C. fleckeri venom components remain unclear, and genome data is lacking.”
The aim of the project is to integrate genome, transcriptome and proteome data to systematically investigate the function, evolution, and ecology of C. fleckeri venom. Prof. King says “gene duplication and alternatively spliced transcripts are known to create protein diversity in venom of animals, therefore high-quality long-read sequence data are critical for resolving repetitive elements in the C. fleckeri genome, whereas deep sequencing of full-length transcripts enables comprehensive recovery of alternative splice-forms that explain protein diversity. Thus, PacBio HiFi combined with Sequel II system is the perfect, cutting-edge solution for us”.
“Data generated from this study, which is a collaboration between The University of Queensland and James Cook University, will provide a foundational resource for the global research community to resolve the function of individual venom components, develop improved antivenoms and/or therapeutic adjuncts, and to better understand the evolution of jellyfish and, more broadly, related cnidarians such as corals and sea anemones,” he says.
the lethal australian box jellyfish
Dr Cheong Xin Chan, Ms Cebrina Nolan, Dr Andrew Walker and Professor Glenn King of the Institute for molecular biology, university of queensland
Professor Glenn F. King, BSc, PhD, FAAM
NHMRC Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland
Deputy Head, Division of Chemistry & Structural Biology Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Theme Leader, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science
Prof. Glenn King’s research harnesses the chemistry of venoms from arthropod predators such as spiders, scorpions and centipedes – and most recently the Australian box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri – to develop novel pharmaceuticals. Animal venoms are a rich source of stable natural peptides that potently modulate the activity of a wide range of ion channels and receptors, and thus Prof. King is using these venoms to help develop analgesics for pain relief, drugs for treating severe paediatric epilepsies, and neuroprotective agents for treating stroke victims.
An equally important focus of his research is on helping to safeguard Australia’s agricultural crops and reduce the spread of disease from insect pests by developing environmentally-friendly insecticides. His work is finding better, safer ways to control disease-spreading pests and protect crops.
The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science (ARC CIPPS), where Prof. King is Co-Leader of the Discovery Theme, focuses on discovering new proteins and peptides, decoding their biological functions, and developing new proteins and peptides to address challenges in health, agriculture and industry. Scientists at the ARC CIPPS aim to unleash the power of peptides and proteins for the benefit of humankind, and they are developing research and outreach programs to promote peptide and protein science.
